Chamberlain tables two child benefit cap parliamentary motion

Wendy Chamberlain MP for North East Fife, has tabled a Parliamentary motion calling on the Government to remove the two-child limit on social payments in the first Budget.

Statistics from the Department of Work and Pensions state that 1.6 million children are affected by the two-child benefit cap. The cap also imposed employment barriers on parents who have less income available for childcare costs as a result.

The Liberal Democrats urge the Government to announce the removal of the cap in the first Budget. Lifting the cap is the most cost-effective way of immediately lifting 300,000 of children out of poverty, while helping to make costs more manageable for parents.

Chamberlain said:

“The two-child benefit cap creates avoidable poverty for children and families across the country.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling on the new Government to scrap this policy to not only help thousands of children, but to also help parents find better employment opportunities.

“Whilst I acknowledge that Labour have set up a Child Poverty Commission, it doesn’t take a commission to realise that we need to lift this cap.

“The Liberal Democrats feel strongly that this needs to happen urgently which is why scrapping the cap will be in our King’s Speech amendment.

“Not only is this the most cost-effective way of alleviating poverty, we also have a moral obligation to change this unnecessary policy.”